Holloway: Osbourne's A Bargain

23 August 2012

Tom Maginn

Manager Full Of Admiration For Midfield Man

“He ended up in Scotland, wanted to come back and, to be fair, he’s been a bit of a bargain of the century for me. If he could just believe in himself and do what he does naturally, he’s an absolutely fantastic player. I’m just delighted to have him.”

“He’s one of them ones, a bit like Incey, he’s been at a big club early on and got a bit lost in the wilderness.

A move to Hibernian followed, before the former England under-16 international signed an initial one-year deal with the Tangerines this summer. Now at his sixth different professional club, Holloway believes the midfielder can really start to make a home for himself at Bloomfield Road.

After making his Premier League debut for Aston Villa in 2006, Osbourne found first-team opportunities limited, despite a string of loan spells, until his contract expired in May 2011.

“He’s given us a balance and a blend and he can play our football. The awkward thing for me now is going to be how to fit all these players in.”

“I’ve had my eye on him for years and I hope he can turn into what I believe he’s got in him,” Holloway said.

The 24-year-old has played every minute of Blackpool’s Championship campaign so far and has barely put a foot wrong in his fledgling Seasiders career.

Ian Holloway has praised Isaiah Osbourne as a ‘bargain of the century’, after the midfielder put in another all action display against Leeds United on Tuesday night.